Individual fluorescent lighting fixture



Aug. 28, 1951 R. M. RUNGE INDIVIDUAL FLUORESCENT LIGHTING Filed sept. 29, 1945 FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Tl. c1257@ INVENTOR Ae/MRD M. ,Pz/N65 ATTOR N EY A ug. 28,v 1951 R. M. RUNGE 2,565,741

Y INDIVIDUAL FLUoREscENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed sept. 29, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. Z8, 1951 INDIVIDUAL FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Richard" M. Runge, Meriden, Conn., assignor to The Millerl Company,l Meriden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 29, ,1945, Serial No. 619,306

4 Claims. l

The present invention relates to individual fluorescent lighting xtures.

In order to improve the appearance of multiple lamp fluorescent lighting xtures used for lighting olices and the like and to further screen the lamps against direct observation., it is desirable to provide suitable screening means which may include louver screens or translucent plates or both, in such positions as to screen light in all ordinary angles of observation of the fixture.

The present invention relates to lighting xtures of this type provided with translucent side panels hingedly secured in place so as to be swung inwardly to be under some or all of the lamps and capable of being swung outwardly to afford access to the lamps for insertionV and removal of the lamps, The present invention `also contemplates fixtures of the type just mentioned wherein the diiiusing side panels are spaced apart to accommodate a centrally disposed louver screen.

In the manufacture of fluorescent lighting equipment for individual xtures, it is customary to provide a xture body which carries all the electrical and structural parts necessary for supporting the lamps and supplying them with current, and the present invention relates to xtures wherein such body is the support on which is secured suitable end plates for hingedly carrying translucent plates such as glass plates and a louver screen, as desired, these parts being supplemental to the structural parts necessary for holding the lamps in place and providing them with current. In co-pending application Ser. No. 619,290, now Patent No. 2,463,013-, March 1, 1949, there is shown and described in detail a form of chassis or lighting xture body which is the herein illustrated structure used to Vreceive the end plates, hinged side plates and louver screen.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, two embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a lighting fixture body to which the present improvements are to be applied;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a partly assembled fixture showing the side panels in elevated position and the louver screen partly inserted in place; n

Figure 2a is a View similar to Figure 2 illustrating the completed xture with the parts in normal operating position;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the completed fixture shown in Figure 2a taken from the rear of the nxture with parts broken away and parts in section, and is on the line 3-3 of Figure 5;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the external ornamental parts of the fixture of Figure 2a, the chassis being omitted;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view through the xture taken on the line 5-5 of Figures 3 and 4.;

Figure 6 is a side elevational View of the complete fixture;

Figure '7 is va view similar to Figure 3 with the louver screen removed and one of the side panels in elevated position;

Figure 8 is an enlarged` sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing parts of the louver screen separated.;

Figure l0 is a fragmentary View illustrating a detail oi the louver screen;

Figure 1l is a transverse sectional view with parts in elevation. illustrating a modified form of construction; and

Figures 12 and 13 are side elevational and top plan views of the structure of Figure 11, the chassis of the lixture being omitted.

The lighting fixture chassis designated generally by the letter C, has ends l0, top I l and bottom cover plate l2, and supports four lamp holders i3 at each end, so that four iluorescent lamps i4 may be carried below and outside the chassis. This chassis may be supported from above in. any suitable manner.

Two cast end plates 20 are secured to the ends of the xture body by screws indicated at 2|. These end plates may have any ornamental exterior appearance desired and as here shown are provided with holes or openings 22 which are adapted t0 be covered. by a, sheet of plastic translucent inaterial 23.. The inner surface of each these end plates is provided with a round lug 22 at about the level of the upper lamps and spaced considerably wider than these lamps and the outer edges 23-23 of the end plate converge downwardly and inwardly from near these upper lugs. These sloping side edges are interconnected by bottom` bar 24, which carries two pins or lugs 25 projecting inwardly a short dista-nce. The end plate has a recessl 2li atv the center of the bottom bar, sloping ribs or ridges 2l parallel with the side edges 23, and lugs 28 above and inside the lugs 22.

The louver screen designated generally byV the letter L has a central longitudinal louver plate 30, side louver plates 3l, and transverse louver Ypins, 25.

plates 32. The central louver plate 3D is notched at 33 to fit the transverse louvers 32 and these louvers are notched at 35 to iit the central louver. The ends of the central louver 30 are passed through holes in the end plates 35 and bent over as indicated at 35 (Figure 5). The side louvers 3| are of a modified channel coniiguratio-n as indicated more clearly in Figure 9. They have slots 31 to receive elements 3S carried by the transverse louvers 32, these elements having holes 39 just inside the channel shaped louver elements 3 l. These holes receive rods iii) having threaded ends as indicated in Figure and the assemblage is clamped together by nuts el threaded on the ends of these rods.

The end plates 35 of the louver screen are spaced apart just a proper distance to lit between the end plates carried by the iixture body and have openings 42 spaced to iit about the posts or As indicated in the drawings, the openings 42 have a bayonet slot shape so that the 'louver assemblage may be fitted about the pins.

If desired, over size holes spaced to receive the pins may be used in one of the end plates 35. The assembled louver sceen is secured in place by rst placing one end in the position as indicated in Figure 2 and then lifting the other end up into position, shifting it sidewise after the pins have entered the slots t2. Accidental removal is prevented by small thumb screws @3 (Figure 5) carried by the end plates 35 and adapted to enter the recesses 25 in the outer end plates 20.

The lugs 22 on the end plates support screen frames 50. The frames may conveniently be made by notching a piece of channel shaped material and bending it to form three sides of a rectangle, the notched corners being reinforced by angle plates as indicated at 5l. the screen frame 55 carry Ll shaped straps 52, fitted about the lugs 22 and having thumb screws 53 spaced so as to permit the bodily sliding of the screen frame relative to the lugs. The

screen frame carries a translucent panel 5d, pref- Y erably made of glass and this glass plate is held in place by an L shaped strap 5, riveted at 55 to the ends of the screen frame. It either overlaps the upper edge of the glass when in the full line position of Figure 8 or may be swung clear as indicated in dotted lines to permit insertion or removal of the glass.

The screen frames 50 are of the proper length so that when the parts are in the position indicated in Figure 2a, at the left of Figure 3, and in Figure 8, the lower part of the screen frames are inside the channel shaped side louvers 3l so that they may be supported. When in this position, the edges of the screen frames are held against the ribs or ridges 21.

When the screen frame is moved diagonally upward as permitted by the lost motion between the pins 22 and the screws 53, its lower edge is released so that the screen and frame may hang vertically downward as indicated at the right of Figure 3. 'I'he screen frame and screen may, however, be swung further, brought up to a horizontal position and then slid inwardly as indicated in Figures 2 and 7 so as to bring the ends of the screen frame under the lugs 25, so that the screen may be supported in elevated position, thereby affording ready access to the lamps.

When the fixture parts are in the closed position as indicated in Figures 2a, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the lamps are concealed from view at all ordinary angles of observation. The longitudinally ex-r The ends of tending members 30 and 3| of the louver screen are so disposed as to provide cut-off angles of approximately 35 below the horizontal for direct light from the lower lamps so that the screening will be complete at angles beyond about 55 from the nadir. The louvers are so spaced as to give a cut-off angle longitudinally of the lighting lixture of approximately 22.

The form illustrated in Figures l1, 12 and 13 is similar to that above described, except that it is arranged to have no central louver screen. The end plates 60 converge nearly to the center line of the fixture and are provided with inwardly extending lugs or stops 6I. The screen frames 62 are similar to those previously described, but made wider and their ends are adapted to be received on the lugs 6 I. As obvious from the drawing these screens preferably do not meet, providing e, narrow space 63 between screen frames to facilitate the discharge from the xture of foreign objects. It will be obvious that one half of the :fixtures of Figures 11-13 could be mounted against the wall or used where light predominantly on one side of a vertical plane is desired.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, I wish it to be understood that the particular forms shown are but a few of these forms, and various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

. What is claimed is:

l. In a lighting xture, two parallel vertical end plates, a rectangular screen frame extending from one end plate to the other and means for supporting the screen frame in an oblique position,V or in a freely suspended position, comprising hinge connections between the plates and frame which include lost motion pin and slot connections whereby the frame can swing or be g moved bodily in the direction of the slot a limited amount, and stops laterally displaced from and below the hinge connections, the frame being movable to place its lower end portions above the stops where it is supported by gravity or to free it from the stops.

2. A fluorescent lighting fixture havingV a horizontal body, fluorescent lamps supported laterally of and below the body, there being two lamps on each side of the body and at dilerent elevations, end plates carried by the body and extending laterally beyond the upper lamps and downwardly below the lower lamps, a louver screen detachably secured to the end plates and disposed below the twoV lower lamps, rectangular screen frames each having above and outside the lamps and at the top thereof lost motion connections with the end plates which permit limited up and down movement of the frame relative to the end plates, the louver screen carrying outwardly extending elements past which the lower edges of the screen frames can move when at the upper range of movement allowed by the lost motion connections and behind which they enter into the lowered position to be supported alongside the side edges of the end plates, and diffusing plates in the screen frames. l l Y 3. A lighting fixture comprising, a body, a. plurality of body supported horizontal fluorescent lamps side by side and at diferent elevations, two parallel vertical end plates secured to the ends of the body beyond the ends of thelamp, each end plate having an inwardly extending hinge lug above. and laterally outside the upper lamp. a screen frame extending Afrom one end plate to the other, the screen frame carrying hinge elements into which the hinge lugs enter, the hinge elements extending generally in the direction of the screen frame and having openings longer than the corresponding transverse di. mension of the hinge lugs so that the lugs are received for bodily as well as angular movement, a screen frame support carried by the end plates diagonally below the hinge lugs, the lower edges of the screen frame being adapted to rest on the screen frame support so that the frame extends downwardly past the adjacent lamps and is supported in a sloping position by the lugs and said support, the elongated hinge elements having a length suflicient to permit shifting the screen frame While in the sloping position to clear the support so that the shifted frame may then swing freely about the hinge lugs to provide access to the lamps.

4. A lighting fixture as claimed in claim 3, wherein the end plates have additional lugs above the hinge lugs and out of the path of the screen frame when freely swinging on the hinge lugs and in a position to be engageable with the screen 6 frame when swung outwardly to a position substantially horizontal and slid inwardly along the hinge lugs.

` RICHARD M. RUNGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: 

